What Causes A Tubular Breast Deformity?

What Causes Tubular Breasts?

Occurring during puberty (though actually a congenital abnormality that just first appears during puberty), tubular breasts are caused by connective tissue malformation that gives the breasts a tube-like appearance. While they’re often mistaken for small breasts, Tubular breast deformity is more than simply a cosmetic issue; it can also affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed due to insufficient glandular tissue that produces milk.

What are Tubular Breasts?

First described in 1976 by Doctors Rees and Aston, researchers are still not entirely sure what causes Tubular breast syndrome. One theory is that it occurs at an embryonic stage and that there may be a genetic predisposition to tuberous breasts. Another links the Tubular breast with a lack of collagen deposition.

Surprisingly, many women are unaware that they even have Tubular breast deformity, partly due to some doctors being unable to accurately diagnose the condition, leaving many women in the dark, thinking their uneven or small breasts are simply a cosmetic issue. Because Tuberous breasts require a diagnosis followed by a special augmentation technique to correct, this lack of awareness around tuberous breasts can be very problematic, as many women will seek breast implants for their “small breasts”, and are left with implants that don’t fit their specific anatomy.

Quick Facts about Tubular Breasts:

1. Anatomical Variation: Tubular breast deformity, also known as tuberous or constricted breasts, is characterized by an anatomical variation in breast development. This condition results in breasts with a narrow base, insufficient breast tissue, and a constricted appearance, often leading to a tubular shape.
2. Developmental Origins: Tubular breast deformity typically stems from developmental issues during adolescence, where the normal growth and expansion of breast tissue are hindered. The constriction of the breast base may impact the overall shape, size, and symmetry of the breasts.
3. Variability in Severity: Tubular breast deformities exhibit a spectrum of severity. Some cases may be subtle, with minimal impact on breast appearance, while others can be more pronounced, resulting in noticeable differences in breast size, shape, and symmetry. The severity varies from person to person.
4. Common Characteristics: Common characteristics of tubular breast deformity include a narrow and elongated breast shape, a higher than usual breast fold, and an enlarged areola. Additionally, the constriction of the breast base can create a gap between the breasts.
5. Corrective Options: Various surgical procedures can address tubular breast deformities and help achieve a more aesthetically pleasing breast shape. Breast augmentation with implants, breast lift techniques, and tissue redistribution procedures are among the options that plastic surgeons may consider to correct tubular breast deformities, tailoring the approach to the specific needs of each individual.

Tubular Breast Diagnosis and Treatment Options:

There’s no specific test for tubular breasts, rather it’s generally diagnosed by sight. This is because there is one feature that all tubular breasts have in common: a lack of breast tissue both vertically and horizontally, leaving the breast with a tube-like appearance. In addition, tubular breast deformity may also include enlarged or dome-like areolas, a flat upper breast, and/or a narrow breast base. There may also be a lot of asymmetry present or an abnormally large space between the breasts.

The treatment for tubular breasts is most often surgical correction. But as previously mentioned, this isn’t your typical breast augmentation; it’s a complex procedure and requires a specialized surgical approach to ensure the best possible outcome. Your surgeon will have to perform subtle technical maneuvers in order to achieve a natural and aesthetically pleasing outcome. In fact, if your surgeon is unaware of your tubular breast deformity, a traditional approach to breast augmentation can actually worsen the swelling and prominence of the areola, exacerbating the tubular breast shape. That’s another reason why it’s so important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who has vast experience in breast augmentation!

A tissue expander is often used for tubular breast deformity to gradually stretch the tight, constricted breast tissue and skin, allowing for a more natural breast shape before placing a permanent implant. In tubular breasts, the lower pole is underdeveloped, the breast base is narrow, and the skin envelope is tight, which can make immediate implant placement difficult or lead to an unnatural shape. The expander helps gradually expand the tissue, creating the necessary space for a well-positioned, symmetrical implant while also correcting the constricted breast base.

Click this sentence to see a patient get a breast augmentation for her tubular breast deformity.

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